Ashiqul Islam, Mutawalli of Haji Manik Ullah Waqf estate and the local farmers at Pakri area under Godagari upazila at a press conference on Saturday noon alleged that by destroying standing crops and fruit orchards Godagari upazila administration is attempting to construct a Cluster village on the Waqf land.
Motawalli Ashiqul Islam further alleged that in 2001, the then UNO of Godagari was the Mutawalli of the estate. According to the waqf rules, he used to invite tenders for leasing the estate and used to receive 10 percent of the total income derived from the property.
But, the present UNO has now declared parts of the waqf land as Khas land and started to make a Cluster village there. Ashiqul said, already the Waqf Administrator has sent a letter to the UNO and directed him not to make any construction or cluster village over there.
But, the UNO is allegedly violating the order and continuing to fill the land by cutting valuable trees and destroying crops to make a cluster village over there.
Local beneficiaries and farmers of the waqf estate informed, they have been cultivating crops and fruits on 28-bighas of estate land for a long time. By destroying standing crops and cutting of mango, litchi and lemon trees over the land, the local administration has allegedly incurred him a loss of Tk 20 lakh, Moreover, by cultivating paddy from the land, the farmers used to harvest some 1,000 maunds of paddy amounting several lakh Taka but now they are being deprived of getting those benefits from the estate land.
They further alleged, the local administration officials were even allegedly threatening any intruder into the land to arrest and to manhandle them physically. They have demanded the intervention of the Prime Minister to get back the estate property. They have also declared to face any conspirator over the estate land at all costs.
It is learnt, Haji Manik Ullah through a deed declared 133 acres of land as Waqf property in 1934. Some of the Waqf property was later on recorded by the name of other people and the Mutawalli of the estate filed a record correction case for the property.
Jane Alam, UNO of Godagari, in this connection said, the land does not belong to Waqf estate. He further said, the Waqf administrator has issued him the letter without understanding about the ownership of the land.
He further said, a decision has been taken to construct the cluster village on the land in accordance with the approval of the Deputy Commissioner, Rajshahi.